Finding 1075801 (2023-004)

Material Weakness
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-30
Audit: 322213
Organization: White County (IN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The County failed to implement effective internal controls for reporting COVID-19 funds, leading to a material weakness in compliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: The County did not meet the standards set by 2 CFR 200.303 for managing federal awards, risking inaccuracies in submitted reports.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should develop and enforce a robust internal control system to ensure accurate and complete reporting to the Treasury.

Finding Text

FINDING 2023-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition and Context Recipients are required to submit quarterly or annually Project and Expenditure (P&E) reports to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury). The reporting periods, as well as the respective due dates, are based upon type of recipient and its population, as well as the recipient's allocation amount. Information to be reported includes projects funded, expenditures, and contracts for the appropriate reporting period. The County was classified as a county with a population below 250,000 residents that received an allocation of less than $10 million in COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. As such, the P&E report covering the period from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, was required to be submitted to the Treasury by April 30, 2023. The P&E report was submitted in April 2023, as required; however, there were no internal controls in place that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the P&E report. One employee prepared and submitted the report without evidence of an oversight or review process. The lack of internal controls was systemic issue throughout the audit period. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 19 WHITE COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause The County did not implement a system of internal controls over reporting. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, errors could occur and remain undetected. As such, the County cannot ensure that the reports submitted are materially accurate and correct. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures to ensure that the County provides the Treasury with complete and accurate information for the P&E report. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 499358 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 499359 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1075800 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $2.09M
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $677,875
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $512,866
20.106 Airport Improvement Program, Covid-19 Airports Programs, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Programs $251,461
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $204,967
93.563 Child Support Services $154,822
20.509 Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program $129,460
93.788 Opioid Str $54,210
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $52,173
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $17,685
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $16,274
97.012 Boating Safety Financial Assistance $7,340
97.047 Bric: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities $1,457